MAESTRO SUPER EXECUTIVE V32 MODEM
                         A novice's experience


                          by Kevin Donoghoe

                               BIOPIC

   I'm pushing 47 and will never be a programmer (sob). I like harpoon and
  Red Storm Rising and ray tracing (though not at the moment as the A3000
  doesn't like Turbo Silver or Harpoon.)  I also like the odd beer or three.

   I work for a company as a crane chaser/driver/labourer that makes the
  Tangara and other rolling stock as well as large gears etc.


   Ed: Kevin tells me that the strings he talks about here work for Term3.2
  but do not work with GPTerm 4.59 according to his tests.


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   I recently purchased this modem at a good price from a local SYSOP who was
  upgrading his modem to 14.4k.  Not having any knowledge of the hardware, I
  used the serial cable from my ZXR.  I was able to call a BBS, but I
  couldn't get any response from my screen. The modem was apparently
  handshaking ok, but that was as far as it went. I called the previous
  owner, and he talked me through the configuration of the modem. Nothing
  worked so he shut down his BBS and brought the other Maestro he was running
  his BBS, (MATRIX BBS) with, over to my home.  Thanks for all your help
  Stuart and thanks to Dick. And thanks to Peter (without a 'c') Nicolas
  (BUDGIEWOI BBS) for guiding me to the right message area.

   After trying both modems with my cable and then his, it was shown that my
  serial cable was the wrong type for these faster modems. The cable is
  called a seven wire serial cable and, as far as I know, are not bundled
  with the modem. They cost $15 - $20 and I got it through Tony Dodds of
  Smart Computing. What a small world we live in as I told Tony my problem
  he suggested that I log into HIS bbs (LOCAL BBS) and try out the loaner
  cable he gave me until mine arrived.

   YIPPEE, what an eye opener the speed of up/down loads, I was averaging
  over a 1000bps on most files as opposed to the 232 I got with the ZXR
  running at 2400bps.


   As an example of the difference:

                        ZXR2400 using ZMODEM

  SDARK_14.LHA 194747 bytes  Min cps:10  Average cps:229  Max cps:232

  96INTRO.TXT  10848 bytes   Min cps:10  Average cps:200  Max cps:232

                        SE v32 using ZMODEM

  MASTER.LZH   345250 bytes  Min cps:512  Average cps:1093  Max cps:1824

  THE LIST.TXT 259510 bytes  Min cps:1024  Average cps:1910  Max cps:2048

  These are fairly common transfer rates in my brief experience.


   To reset the modem to its factory settings, load your terminal programme,
  and type on the screen (upper or lower case) AT&F <RETURN> Then type
  AT&W&W0&W1 <RETURN>. This saves the factory settings to the modems three
  profiles (1 factory and 2 user). You can also force the modem to use a
  specific profile with AT&Yn where 'n' = user profile 0 or 1.

   Later on when you are used to it, you can store specific settings in the
  two user profiles as needed as well as 4 phone numbers.

   I've now set my INIT string in the termimal programme that I find myself
  using most nowadays, (TERM3.2) as the following.

  ATZ\r~~~AT&FTW1L3&C1&D2S7=45S9=16\r

   Most of this is from my reading, is redundant, as I'm repeating most of
  the default settings for the modem. I'll describe the bits that aint.  The
  second "T" sets the modem to dial out using TONE, the "W1" reports error
  correction call progress. "L3" sets the modems internal speaker to LOUD as
  it's not even as loud as the ZXR. "S7=45" forces the modem to wait 45
  seconds for carrier from the remote modem (the default is 50). After that
  time the modem will disconnect.

   I use 45 as most of the BBS's that I frequent answer within that time, and
  with TERMx.x, I can force the modem to go online with a mouse click or key
  press.

   "S9=16" is the carrier detect response time, (default is 6 = 0.6sec).
  This turns on RLSD. I'm not sure what that acronym means except that it's
  something to do with the two modems having a chat between themselves to see
  if they are capable of using particular data compression etc.

   I was told that it helps the connection to cause this longer delay.  The
  "\r" is RETURN in TERM terminology. The other bits are todo with speed and
  error correction (v42.bis, MNP etc). Make sure you set your terminal
  proggy to RTS/CTS as that is the default for the modem, and make sure it's
  not set to AUTOBAUD or you'll connect at the default speed of the Maestro
  which is 2400bps.

   That's about it except for those people who are having trouble getting
  there modem to AUTO answer. I've got MAX's BBS running now as a toy as I'm
  one of the Billions of people who can't afford to run a BBS. The INIT
  string to type into the modem setting on my Maestro SE v32 is the
  following: ATZ^M~~~AT&F&C1&D2S2=1S0=1S1=1^M

   This will set the modem to AUTO answer and reset to AUTO answer after a
  call to the BBS has ended. The" ~ tilde " means wait a half second.  You
  will have to set the other bits on the right hand side as well, set them
  all (tick) and experiment with some friend who will call you.

   I'm now waiting for my new Maestro 144FM 14.4k fax/data modem to arrive.
  Tomorrow THE WORLD hee hee hee.

   That's all from this novice, read your manual and ask questions of the
  SYSOP and other users. people are always willing to help, but they can't
  if you don't ask.


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